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This Disney World Souvenir Trick Feels Illegal


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Sometimes it feels good to be “bad”…

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EPCOT

Well, not really bad. We obviously don’t condone breaking any Disney World rules, EVER. Let’s be 100% clear there. However, sometimes at Disney World, there are things that *feel* like they should be against the rules — to the point of being fun to “get away with” — but are actually perfectly fine to do. One of our favorites involves gift shops.

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The concept of theme park rides letting out directly into a gift shopsometimes colloquially referred to as a “ride dump”has become so associated with Disney over the years (and often been parodied in pop culture; see an incalculable amount of Simpsons parodies) that many believe it’s been part of the parks since the beginning. However, that’s not the case.

The first Disney ride that led directly into a gift shop was the Tomorrowland classic Adventure Thru Inner Space, which began flowing directly into The Character Shop after a 1970s refurbishment. The first dedicated exit gift shops were built for Disneyland’s Star Tours (which ironically replaced Adventure Thru Inner Space) and Space Mountain in the 1980s. Since then, they’ve become relatively ubiquitous.

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Adventure Thru Inner Space ©D23

So, what’s the trick that feels “illegal”? Heading into the shop from its exit without riding the ride at all!

Let’s take EPCOT for example. A vast majority of the park’s attractions and pavilions — Mission Space, Test Track (when it reopens), Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Frozen Ever After, and Journey Into Your Imagination to name a few — have gift shops at or near their exists. If you wanted to, you could visit all of these shops without stopping foot on the ride.

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©Disney

How does this feel like “getting away with something”? Well, in general, you can visit the store and peruse the merchandise without taking the time to wait in a queue or ride the attraction. Even more specifically when it comes to “thrill ride” experiences, you’re looking at the souvenirs without having ridden the attraction all of which is totally fine, but feels just a wee bit illegal.

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‘Frozen’ figurine

Sliding in the back door to check out a ride’s gift shop without actually riding said ride is totally within the rules of visiting Disney World, but it always kind of feels like it does. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World “rules.”

The Disney World Souvenir Hack for the First Day of Your Trip

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WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.


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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

Have you ever visited a Disney World gift shop without riding the ride? Let us know in the comments below!

The post This Disney World Souvenir Trick Feels Illegal first appeared on the disney food blog.

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